Home Security Systems.

[JSUnlimited]

Anyone know about, installed, or have a security system? Although the current system I have is "ARMED", services provided by a .38 pistol and a trusty 12ga. Remington 870. Oh, yeah, and a dog that gets really pissed off at strangers (has had a butt-cheek for lunch...sis-in-law!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif) I've been looking at installing a "hybrid system." Meaning, that some of it is hardwired and some is wireless. I'd like to get into specifics about what I'm looking at, but if you knew and found me, you would know how to disable it and steal my goodies!

Seriously, any input on brands (GE, Ademco-Honeywell, etc.) and knowledge of reliability is what I'm looking for. ADT, Brinks, and the like are nothing but monitoring stations.... I'm looking for the actual equipment used and it's story.

 

[EddieWalker]

I did my own alarm system when I lived in California.

I talked to the big name companies and didn't like what they were selling. Too much radio transmitters and dependnence on batteries. I asked how long the batteries last and how do yuo know when to change them. They all had vague answers such as 5 to 7 years, but sometimes sooner.

I decided to install my own system and hard wire it. That way it's got city power or battery backup.

Be sure to talk to the company you chose to monitor it before buying your own equipment. Depending on their monitoring system will limit you to certain products. There is allot of stuff that's not compatible.

Monitorying is what costs you. Shop around and be sure your comparing apples to apples. Some companies are all automated in a central location. This sounds good, but there's always glitches of some kind.

I chose a local company with real people monitoring the systems. They personally confirm every alert and know me by name.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[goodoleboy]

Get a hardwired system stay away from National companies they seem to off er less value than a local shop. Basically a special with "3 door contact and 2 motions" is the cheapest system to have.
You want Contacts on each door and window not a motion in the hallway and kitchen. Motions are ok secondary protection but it should not be a primary source of protection.
Reason is If you set the alarm at night the motion is turned off so you can get a midnight snack without the alarm going off leaving you unprotected.
Make sure you get everydoor on "instant" mode if you want your family fully protected except for one that is used as a main entry (Hopefully not the front door).

Glass break sensors work but also go off if a door is slammed or any loud noise occurs. No protection if the bad guy just opens up the window.

We paid $800 recently for 12 contacts hardwired, 1 extra keypad,motion, and fire detector...
Insurance credits $14 a month for the monitoring that cost $15 monthly.

 

[Volfandt]

I've had a DSC system for approx 16 yrs and the only service problem it's given me is when I've had to change the battery and it told me when to do that. I installed and service it myself.

It's completely hardwired so I can't remark on the it's wireless capabilties.

It controls 3 amplified siren horns, 3 keypads, 6 door switches and a motion detector. It uses end of line resistors so if someone tries to defeat a zone by "shorting" it out it will trip the alarm.
Some of the features I use is automatic arming and 24hr door chime. It also has remote monitoring capabilities but I only use mine for local alarming.

It's a commercial grade alarm system that works great in a residential setting.

Volfandt

 

[kenmac]

I have a wireless system. The main control is hard wired with battery back up. All the transmitters on the doors & windows -motion detectors are wireless. I chose to go wireless because if I need to move my motion detectors in my garage to a different area , I don't have to rewire them .I also have a detatched garage & out bldg. that I wanted protected & this wouldn't have been possible (without alot of expense) if I had chose a wired system .I get approx 7 yrs out of the batteries & have had no issues with the system. I pay $16.00 per mo for monitoring

 

[Buck]

I have my house completely wired and every window has a detection device, every room a motion detection device. Even my barn is wired to detect intruders. The previous owners paid for all this.

I hate it. In fact I have cut the wires to the security company. I can not live like that.

If I were to reconsider a security system, it would not be the kind of traditional systems being discussed here. Many new wireless systems will become more available soon. They connect directly to the internet and will be significantly cheaper than the traditional (separate phone line).

I do hope I will never need either.

 

[Bird]

Before investing money in any system, I'd suggest contacting your local law enforcement agency; i.e., police department or sheriff's department. For those who are not aware of it, 97% or more of all the alarms that go off are "false alarms". Answering false alarms has always been a considerable drain on law enforcement resources, and "good" solutions have been few and far between. Now I know this may not apply in your area, but more and more places in the country are enacting new laws to combat the problem. The most common of these are:

1) to require any location with an alarm to have a permit, usually renewed annually. If the police respond to an alarm at a location that does not have a permit, there is a fine to be paid by the property owner. In most cases a permit holder is permitted a certain number of false alarms per year and pays a service fee for each additional false alarm, and

2) for the police to not respond to alarms unless or until they have been verified by whoever monitors it.

I guess most people understand that silent alarms, on the rare occasions they actually work and there really is a break-in, are best for catching the criminal in the act, while audible alarms are best for scaring off the intruder before he can take anything. So you might say the audible has an advantage over the silent alarm for residential use since you'd probably like to scare off the intruder before he actually gets into your home.

And then if you have a good loud audible alarm, and it goes off while you're away from home, and the place is locked up so no one can get in to turn it off, you may have some very unhappy neighbors when you get home. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif